7 Mistakes Nearly All Back-Pain Sufferers Make

Expert Debunks Common Myths

Back pain is one of the most
common health issues in the United States, with up to 80 percent of the
population suffering the condition at some point in one’s life.

“But this exceedingly high
number is just the beginning of the problem, because multiple studies indicate
that roughly 70 percent of back surgeries fail,” says Jesse Cannone, a
back-pain expert and author of “The 7-Day Back Pain Cure,” (www.losethebackpain.com). “It’s so common that there’s a name
for it – failed back surgery syndrome, or FBSS.”

One recent study monitored
1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database; half of
those on disability endured back surgery, half did not. After two years, only
26 percent of those who had surgery returned to work. Additionally, 41 percent
of those who had surgery saw a drastic increase in painkiller use.

“The success rate for the
most common treatments is pathetically low, so it’s no surprise people often
struggle years or decades with back pain, with few ever finding lasting
relief,” Cannone says. “The majority of back surgeries are not only
ineffective, but most could have been completely avoided.”

He reviews seven common
mistakes made by back-pain sufferers:

• Continuing a
treatment that doesn’t work:
One of Cannone’s clients experienced 70 treatments with a chiropractor,
resulting in no relief. “Here’s a general rule to follow,” he says. “If you see
no improvement after going through a three-month period of treatment, consider
making a change.”

• Failing to
solve the problem the first time:
Take pain seriously the first time. Cannone’s own mother suffered a significant
bout of back pain, which subsided after a few days. But two years later it came
back, and the second time was so debilitating she couldn’t work. “If she had
taken the first bout more seriously, she probably would have prevented the
second, more debilitating bout.”

• Thinking
you’re too healthy or fit to have back pain: Staying in shape is always a good
idea, but it does not make you invulnerable. People who train their body can be more prone to back pain
because they often push their body’s limits, says Cannone, who has been a
personal fitness trainer since 1998.

• Treating only
the symptoms:
Cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory drugs, ultrasound and electrical stimulation
only address pain symptoms. “You may get rid of the pain, but the problem
causing the pain will persist if not addressed,” he says. “If you want lasting
relief, you must address the underlying causes, and it’s never just one.”

• Not
understanding that back pain is a process: In most cases, back pain, neck pain
and sciatica take weeks, months or even years to develop; the problem may exist
for quite a while before the sufferer notices it, except for rare one-time
trauma incidents like automobile accidents. Most people sit for hours at a
time, yet the body was developed for diverse movements throughout the day.
“Think of a car with steering out of alignment; eventually, tires will wear
down unevenly and there will be a blow out,” Cannone says. “The same is true
with your body.” Just as the damage was a process, recovery is the same and can
be time-intensive.

• Believing
there are no more options left:
Not only does back pain hurt and prove physically debilitating; it also tries
the morale and determination of the patient. A sufferer can run the gamut of
treatments. But, often, it takes a cocktail of treatments that address all of
the underlying causes. “Remember, you can’t really treat the root of pain until
you know what’s causing it,” Cannone says. “In so many cases, this is precisely
the problem.”

• Failing to
take control:
Doctors and other specialists are ultimately limited to what they know and what
they’re used to. If you have a debilitating back problem, it should be among
your top priorities to learn all you can about it, and how to fix it. Get a
second, third and fourth opinion if treatment isn’t working; try out
alternative therapies, and consider a healthy mix of treatment. Most
importantly, take control; it’s your back, your body and only you can heal it,
with help from others.

“I may be critical of how
most handle back pain, but that’s because I’ve proven to patients that there
are flaws in the traditional approaches as well as more effective
alternatives,” Cannone says. “I also feel that I’m offering a hopeful message
because of my high success rate in helping to cure the back pain from my
clients.”

About Jesse Cannone

Jesse Cannone is a leading
back pain expert with a high rate of success for those he consults. He has been
a personal trainer since 1998, specializing in finding root causes for chronic
pain, and finding solutions with a multidiscipline approach. Cannone publishes
the free email newsletter “Less Pain, More Life,” read by more than 400,000
worldwide, and he is the creator of Muscle Balance Therapy™.